The Hilt 2021 Estate Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills

From the same proprietors as Jonata, The Hilt was founded in 2008 as a separate winery focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Santa Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley. In 2014, the Rancho Salsipuedes estate was purchased and a new, permanent home for The Hilt was found. Outside of Salsipuedes, The Hilt also sources old-vine fruit from the marled soils of Sanford and Benedict and the loamy sandy soils of Solomon Hills in the Santa Maria Valley.

Winemaker Matt Dees is very much in charge of the entire process, from vine to bottle. He's passionate about the rugged terrains and an enthusiast of the art of blending. As of 2014, he abolished the use of herbicides and pesticides in Rancho Salsipuedes and established his own farming parameters for the vineyards. 

The Hilt Estate Chardonnay is made up of fruit from the three maritime influenced vineyards in the southwest corner of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation: Radian, Bentrock, and Puerta del Mar. The vines range in age between 8 and 44 years old and grow on diatomatious earth and loamy sandy. They are pressed and fermented a combination of roughly 40% new French Oak barrels, nearly half used French oak, and the remaining in stainless steel. The wine undergoes 30% malolactic fermentation with no stirring.